Beyond HAL & BEL: 2 Under-Radar Defence Stocks Riding India’s ₹50,000 Cr Electronics Supercycle

Beyond HAL & BEL: 2 Under-Radar Defence Stocks Riding India’s ₹50,000 Cr Electronics Supercycle
Beyond HAL & BEL: 2 Under-Radar Defence Stocks Riding India’s ₹50,000 Cr Electronics Supercycle
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8 Min Read

Market Impact Snapshot (Why Traders Must Track This Theme)

  • ₹50,000 crore defence electronics opportunity opening up

  • Electronics content per defence platform rising 30–50% per cycle

  • Structural shift: From steel & engines → sensors, PCBs & embedded systems

  • High-margin electronics replacing low-margin assembly

  • Order books turning multi-year and export-driven

Translation for traders:
This is Defense 2.0—where value creation migrates from aircraft and missiles to embedded intelligence, sensors, guidance systems, and electronic warfare modules.

Sharp Opening Impact—The Real Defence Goldmine Is Invisible

When India unveils a new fighter jet, missile, or radar system, the spotlight stays on HAL, BEL, and Bharat Dynamics.

But the real power no longer lies in metal it lies in microchips.

Modern warfare is driven by:

  • Signal processing

  • Embedded intelligence

  • Secure communications

  • Precision targeting

  • Electronic warfare

And this shift has unlocked a ₹50,000 crore defence electronics opportunity, now being quietly dominated by two under-the-radar electronics specialists Kaynes Technology and Avalon Technologies.

Defence Is Moving From Platforms → Processing Power

Traditional defence manufacturing focuses on:

  • Aircraft

  • Ships

  • Missiles

  • Armoured vehicles

But next-gen warfare focuses on

  • Embedded electronics

  • Radar signal processing

  • Guidance circuitry

  • High-density PCBs

  • Mission-critical subsystems

Why this matters:
Each new generation of defence hardware contains exponentially higher electronics content, which means:

🔹 Higher pricing power
🔹 Faster repeat orders
🔹 Sticky long-term contracts
🔹 Structural margin expansion

This is where Kaynes & Avalon step in; they don’t build weapons; they build the brains inside them.

without duplicating earlier content:

Why It Matters Today

This defence electronics theme is not a long-term story anymore it is entering an execution phase right now.

Three live market triggers are aligning simultaneously:

 1. FY26 Defence Capex Front-Loading Has Begun

The government has started front-loading defence electronics procurement to accelerate:

  • Indigenous radar deployment

  • Drone & counter-drone systems

  • Secure battlefield communication upgrades

This is translating into faster order finalisation, shorter tender cycles, and early execution billing — a direct earnings visibility upgrade for electronics suppliers.

 2. Electronics Localization Mandate Tightened

Under the latest DAP & iDEX procurement reforms, defence OEMs are being forced to:

  • Increase domestic electronics sourcing

  • Reduce import dependency in mission-critical systems

Immediate impact:
Tier-1 electronics vendors like Kaynes & Avalon become default sourcing partners, structurally raising order conversion probability.

 3. Export Order Funnel Is Opening Up

With India now approved as a defence electronics exporter to multiple friendly nations, new opportunities are emerging in:

  • Radar subsystems

  • Guidance electronics

  • Secure communication modules

This adds nonlinear upside optionality beyond domestic defence budgets.

 4. Margin Inflection Is Now Visible

Both companies are witnessing:

  • Higher electronics complexity

  • More design ownership

  • Better pricing power

This is pushing margin expansion and ROCE upcycles, which historically triggers valuation re-rating phases in EMS stocks.

The 2 Silent Defence Electronics Beneficiaries

1. Kaynes Technology—The Embedded Systems Powerhouse

Financial Signals:

  • Q3 FY26 Revenue: ₹804 Cr (+22% YoY)

  • 9M FY26 Revenue: ₹2,384 Cr (+37% YoY)

  • Order Book: ₹9,000+ Cr (Multi-year visibility)

  • ROCE: 14.1%

  • Operating margin rising: 14% → 16%

Strategic Edge:

  • Embedded systems

  • High-density PCBs

  • Semiconductor assembly (OSAT)

  • Defence + aerospace electronics design

Market Signal:
This is design-led manufacturing, not low-margin assembly.

2. Avalon Technologies—The Subsystem Integration Specialist

Financial Signals:

  • Revenue: ₹418 Cr (+49% YoY)

  • PAT Growth: +36% YoY

  • Order Book: ₹2,016 Cr

  • ROCE: 18.8%

  • Margin expansion: 7% → 10.4%

Strategic Edge:

  • Subsystem integration

  • PCB + cable + magnetics + box build

  • Defence-grade electronics and aerospace exports

Market Signal:
Moving from assembly → mission-critical electronics engineering.

Order Books = The Real Conviction Signal

Company Order Book Revenue Visibility
Kaynes ₹9,072 Cr 3–4 Years
Avalon ₹2,016 Cr 2–3 Years

Why this matters for traders:
Defence electronics suppliers benefit from:

  • Multiple programs

  • Retrofit upgrades

  • Life-cycle maintenance

  • Export diversification

This creates non-cyclical compounding, unlike platform-dependent defence PSUs.

Why Electronics Beat Platforms in Defence Economics

Platforms Electronics
Capital heavy Asset-light
Long tender cycles Faster execution
Policy dependent Program dependent
Low margins High margins
Few repeat orders Recurring upgrades

Structural Reality:
Future defence budgets will allocate more capital to electronics than metal.

Valuation Reality—Premium Because This Is Structural Growth

Company P/E Market View
Kaynes ~66x Design-led electronics
Avalon ~71x Subsystem integrator

Translation:
Markets are pricing structural compounding, not cyclical defence orders.

Trader Takeaway—Where the Next Defence Alpha Will Come From

India’s defence transformation is shifting toward:

Speed → Sensors → Software → Secure Communications → Signal Processing

That’s why value is migrating upstream from platforms to processors.

If defence budgets grow and electronics content per platform keeps rising, the real winners will be:

➡️ Companies that design the intelligence, not the steel.

That is exactly where Kaynes & Avalon are positioned.

Final Market Summary

Defence is no longer about size; it is about signal.

The next decade’s compounding opportunity will come from:

  • Embedded electronics

  • Electronic warfare systems

  • Precision circuitry

  • Secure communications

And the stocks best positioned at this inflection point are Kaynes Technology & Avalon Technologies.

This is India’s defence electronics supercycle, and it’s only getting started.

FAQs:

1. Why is defence electronics becoming a major investment theme in India?

India’s defence manufacturing is shifting from platform-heavy production to electronics-driven warfare systems, including sensors, embedded intelligence, guidance systems, and electronic warfare. With electronics content per defence platform rising 30–50%, this shift is unlocking a ₹50,000 crore structural opportunity with higher margins, faster execution, and recurring orders.

2. How are Kaynes Technology and Avalon Technologies positioned in this opportunity?

Kaynes focuses on embedded systems, high-density PCBs, semiconductor assembly, and defence-grade electronics, while Avalon specialises in subsystem integration, PCB assembly, magnetics, and box-build solutions. Both companies operate in mission-critical electronics layers, giving them pricing power, multi-year order visibility, and export-driven growth.

3. Why are defence electronics companies valued at premium multiples?

Unlike traditional defence manufacturing, electronics firms deliver:

  • Higher margins

  • Faster project execution

  • Repeat lifecycle orders

  • Strong export demand

This results in structural earnings compounding, justifying premium P/E multiples compared to cyclical defence platform manufacturers.

4. What makes defence electronics a structural, not cyclical, growth story?

Every new generation of defence equipment requires higher electronic intensity, driving sustained demand for:

  • Sensors

  • Embedded intelligence

  • Secure communications

  • Signal processing systems

This ensures long-term compounding beyond single defence orders, making electronics a multi-decade structural theme.

5. What are the key risks traders should track in defence electronics stocks?

  • Delay in defence procurement timelines

  • Export regulatory changes

  • Margin pressure from component costs

  • Order execution risks

However, large order books, rising localisation, and export diversification significantly reduce downside volatility.

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